Hemorrhoids are a real issue for a lot of us, myself included. I have suffered with hemorrhoid problems since I was a teenager. This condition was exacerbated after the birth of my daughter when I was 20 years old. At 25, I had a hemorrhoidectomy, which seemed to keep thing under control for years. Then after a really bad bout of Campylobacter these became an issue again. As you can imagine, I have tried a huge amount of “treatments” for hemorrhoids. Read on to find out about the natural things I discovered for hemorrhoid help.

Natural Hemorrhoid Help

These are the things I have found that have really helped me with hemorrhoids

A Probiotic. I cant live without my probiotic supplement and notice a huge difference when I take this, compared to when I don’t take it. As someone who has hemorrhoids, I think it is VITAL a probiotic is

A probiotic is a Vital addition for Hemorrhoid help

taken every day, to help to ensure the gastro intestinal tract is populated with as much friendly bacteria as possible. I take the Ethical Nutrients Inner Health Plus every night before I go to bed. I take it at night time so that it does it job while I am sleeping. I think it only makes sense to take it at night, so you get better adherence of the probiotic bacteria to the gastro intestinal tract. Also, because you are not eating or drinking at night, the beneficial bacteria have the opportunity to stay in your system longer, without being affected by food or liquids. If I eat something that upsets my digestive system, I introduce the Ethical Nutrients IBS Support, for inflammatory bowel conditions. I find that this combination can quickly calm down the inflammation. If my digestive system is still upset with these 2 probiotics, I will introduce the Ethical Nutrients Gastro Relief, which contains Saccharomyces cerevisiae (boulardii), which can deal to what ever bad thing I have ingested.

Identify Food Intolerances. Certain foods upset my digestion, which makes me have to empty my bowel more frequently than usual. This can aggravate hemorrhoids making them flare up. A gentleman came into our retail shop yesterday and told me that as an Indian who eats a lot of spicy foods, he believes these spices in his diet aggravate his digestion, leading to more irritated piles (hemorrhoids).

A Food Intolerance Test can help to identify problematic foods in your diet

I have had Campylobacter before and find that for myself, if I eat chicken that has not been perfectly handled or cooked, this aggravates my digestive system and hence my hemorrhoids. Of course this is not a true food intolerance, but for me, most chicken is a major problem for the hemorrhoids.

The other foods I have found to be a problem are those that alter the balance of good bacteria in my gastro intestinal tract. This is mainly all forms of added sugar, but other foods that are a problem for me are gluten. Many people find an intolerance to dairy will cause frequent bowel movements, hence aggravating hemorrhoids. Alcohol can also be an issue for a lot of people and especially beer and wine.

You can have Food Intolerance Testing done, using this test kit. This test uses ELISA methodology, which tests for IgG or a remembered immune response in your body. So if the food that is being tested has caused a problem in your body before, this can be measured and noted, so that you know to avoid it in the future. It tests 96 common foods or 95 vegetarian foods.

I find taking a digestive enzyme and making sure I have adequate hydrochloric acid to break down protein at meals, a real help for my overall digestive health. So long as you don’t have an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans or a stomach ulcer, you can top up hydrochloric acid levels by mixing 1 Tbls of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in 100ml of tepid water and having this with the last few bites of your protein meal. We also have a wide variety of enzymes available for all kinds of complaints. You can read more about Enzymes here.

Topical Relief For Hemorrhoids

At healthyonline we stock Presto Gel and Weleda Hemorrhodial Cream. I have tried both of these and they both work very well. My customers rave about both of these ointments/gels and feel they both work equally well.

Presto Gel unique and safe formula protects inflamed tissues from further bacterial infection and/or contact with faecal acids and toxins, which are the main causes of anal discomforts. This protection does not destroy the bacteria but instead helps create optimum conditions to support your body’s natural biological wound healing mechanisms and allow them to accelerate the normal process of cell generation and tissue repair.

Presto Gel can be used by men and women of all ages, including pregnant or breastfeeding women and children over 12 years. It is so safe, it can be used for as long and as often as necessary.

I have accomplished miraculous results using this ointment. Just like the Presto Gel, it stings a bit when you first use it, but the miraculous results are well worth it. Weleda tell us their ointment is Specifically for helping relieve the pain, swelling and discomfort of external haemorrhoids.

It contains the herbal ingredients horse chestnut, witch hazel, horsetail grass, marigold and borage, with rosemary essential oil. It can be used for both external and also internal hemorrhoids, as well as for fissures (splits or a tear in the lower rectum or anal area). Unlike the Presto gel which comes with an applicator, the Weleda Hemorrhoidal Ointment does not have an applicator, so you need to apply this with your finger.

Naturopharm New Zealand are kind enough to make these suppositories at their laboratory for us. They used to be a standard stock item, but for some reason were changed or deleted, so we get these made for us, in small batches for our customers at Ideal Health and healthyonline. I find these to be a life saver and again, have accomplished miraculous results with these, usually over night.

Not only do I have the pain of hemorrhoids, but I also experience bleeding hemorrhoids too. Sometimes the bleeding can go on for a week or more, during which time I try and remember to do everything I possibly can to stop this. These suppositories work incredibly well and especially once I am in this state. When its really bad, I will insert 2, rather than just the one, before bed. I can honestly tell you that when I wake up in the morning, I always notice at least a 50% improvement and some times the improvement is even greater than this. I always keep a packet of these at home, so if I need them, they are there.

Internal Treatment for Hemorrhoids

Herbal formulations that contain herbs such as Horsechestnut and Butchers Broom are the ones that are targeted to venous problems like hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

With Horsechestnut & Butchers Broom

We have the Natures Way Leg Veins, which contains not only Horse chestnut and Butchers Broom but also Grape seed Extract. They tell us “Horse chestnut is an astringent herb used traditionally to increase vascular strength and tone. Its active constituent aescin has a “sealing” effect on the capillaries reducing the number and diameter of the small pores of the capillary wall through which exchange of fluids occurs”.

“Butcher’s broom is an anti-inflammatory and antivasoconstrictive herb. Much research has been done in Europe where it is widely used for treatment of varicose veins”.

Natures Way use Tru-OPC’s, a Patented Grape Seed extract. They tell us “True OPC’s are powerful antioxidants that help to strengthen capillary walls and micro-capillaries. This reduces leakage and valve and capillary insufficiency”.

Making sure you stay well hydrated is vital for a healthy digestive system and hence trying to keep piles or hemorrhoids under control. Vitamin c and Bioflavonoids help with the integrity of veins, arteries and capillaries, so ensuring you are consuming plenty of fresh vegetables, as salad and lightly steamed is best. I love the Vitamin C Hesperidin Powder for a boost of Vitamin C and have this at least once a day, increasing this when needed.

Maybe you have tried something for hemorrhoids that works really well? Share your information with us, so we can all benefit from your recommendation.